[Video] Deteriorating Saigon Highway Has Become A Potential Death Trap

Peaks and valleys. This may be the best way to describe the condition of Saigon’s East-West Highway that has become a potentially deadly obstacle course for drivers.

The US$451.2 million highway was inaugurated with much fanfare back in August 2010 but has since been plagued by a severe rutting problem that has left significant depressions in the road surface, reports Thanh Nien.

Last Thursday, the Ministry of Transport of ordered city officials to address the issue as the uneven roadway has already resulted in several traffic accidents.

The shoddy paving, characterized by 15 centimeter deep depressions, has been highlighted at least six times since the street opened to traffic.

The troubled half kilometer section along District 2's Mai Chi Tho Street lies in a particularly busy area where motorbikes, cars and trucks converge.

As seen in the video below, many motorbike drivers have found it difficult to navigate the topographic nightmare.

“In one of the latest accidents, a truck lost its balance on Friday morning, sending its 20-feet container to the ground. The accident created a traffic jam that was not cleared until three hours later,” wrote the newspaper.

The problem has been attributed to poor construction quality and more truck traffic than expected.